How Would You Determine If Certain Minerals are Essential for Plant

Question

How would you determine if certain minerals are essential for plant growth?
A)Crush the plant leaves, stems, and roots and measure which minerals are present after growth.
B)Grow the plant hydroponically without the mineral in question.
C)Weigh how much minerals are in the soil when the plant germinates and again after plant growth.
D)When the plant has grown, analyze the mineral deficiency symptoms.

Accepted Answer

The best way to determine if certain minerals are essential for plant growth is to grow the plant hydroponically without the mineral in question. This allows for precise control over the minerals that the plant is exposed to, and if the plant does not grow or shows signs of mineral deficiency, it can be concluded that the mineral is essential for plant growth. Crushing plant parts or analyzing the mineral content of soil before and after growth do not necessarily indicate essentiality, and analyzing mineral deficiency symptoms only indicates that a particular mineral is needed, but not necessarily that it is essential.